Whose Stock is Up, Down Among Former Crimson Tide QBs: Bama in the NFL Tracker Week 7

It's been a week of apologies for former Alabama Crimson Tide football players, including one by a quarterback who had publicly called out his teammates.

That was Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, of course, who after another frustrating loss, 29-27 to the Chargers, had questioned his team's focus and was critical of teammates for being late to a recent player's-only meeting. He apologized to the Miami Dolphins earlier this week and then did so before reporters on Wednesday.

"I made a mistake. I'm owning up to that right now," he said during the press conference. "I've talked to the guys on the team about it, talked to the leaders about it. They know my heart. They know that the intent was right, but no matter the intent. The intent can be right but when things get misconstrued or however the media wants to portray it. That leaves a void of silence and a lot of questions for the guys on our team.

"Now, being 1-5, we talk a lot about we've got to get this going. … Come in excited to go to work, forget about the noise, and I feel like I added on to that for our guys. For myself, I've got to look at myself as a leader, protecting the team. I don't feel like I did that to the best of my abilities. I felt like I let the emotions of the game get to me after the game and that's something that I can learn from as a leader on this team. What happens in-house should be protected and none of that should have gotten out. So want to publicly apologize about that. Want to move forward and focus on the Cleveland Browns."

Tagovailoa may only be 27, but he signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension with the Dolphins last year to be the face of the franchise, so in that respect he definitely should have known better. However, to give an idea of just how far the Dolphins have fallen, two seasons ago he lead the NFL with 4,624 passing yards and Miami made the playoffs.

Here's the other thing about Tagovailoa, which will sound very familiar to Crimson Tide fans, his numbers are very comparable to Jalen Hurts.

Yet Another Jalen Hurts-Tua Tagovailoa Comparison

Tagovailoa 127-for-182 (69.8 percent), 1,213 yards, 11 TDs, 7 interceptions, 92.1 rating, 13 sacks

Hurts: 117-for-172 (68.0 percent), 1,172 yards, 8 TDs, 1 interception, 100.2 raring, 18 sacks

The big difference, obviously, is interceptions, which can be indicative of a player pressing and feeling like he has to do to much. Of course, Hurts is coming off being named MVP of Super Bowl LIX, when the Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22, so he's coming from a much different place this season.

Statistically speaking, Mac Jones, who at Alabama was behind both on the depth chart, has been just as good as both: 113-for-168, 67.3 percent, 1,252 yards, with six touchdowns and three interceptions. His rating: 93.6, despite being on an offense that's been devastated by injuries, including to starter Brock Purdy (toe), yet somehow is still 4-2.

Last week, Jones threw for a season-high 347 yards, and this week he can become just the fourth quarterback over the past five season to have 25-plus completions and 275-plus passing yards in five straight games. And then of course, he could end up back on the bench as Purdy is close to returning.

Keep in mind that Purdy landed five-year, $265 million extension, with $181 million guaranteed back in May, and the deal includes a no-trade clause. Meanwhile, Jones, who has shown he's more than capable of being a starter somewhere in the league, has a two-year deal for $7 million. The 2025 NFL trade deadline is November 4, at 4 p.m. ET.

That brings us to Bryce Young, who could have the Carolina Panthers above .500 with a victory in Sunday against the winless New York Jets. Considering where the Panthers have been, and are still putting together the pieces they want to build around, that's pretty impressive. He's 123-for-199 (61.8 percent), 1,150 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions for a 84.0 rating that is on the rise (he had season-high 114.8 rating last week against Dallas).

Check our what Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated has to say about Young, and how the Panthers have an interesting decision to make about him after this season, but when it comes to whether a quarterback's stock is on the rise or decline there's really only two numbers that determine that status, wins and losses.

Bama in the NFL Week 7 Tracker

For the full set of statistics on how the former Crimson Tide players did this week, check out our elaborate Bama in the NFL Week 7 Tracker. It will be updated throughout the weekend until every game is concluded.

Bama in the NFL Tracker - Click to view Week 7 Stats | Kristi L. Patrick

The Ultimate Bama in the NFL Database

Contract Info, Status of Former Alabama Crimson Tide Players
Active Crimson Tide Players by Team, Position
All-Time Alabama Crimson Tide Players in the NFL
All-Time Crimson Tide Draft Selections

Toothless Lions?

Neither former Alabama defensive back with the Detroit Lions will be in uniform for Monday's game against Tampa Bay. Cornerback Terrion Arnold is dealing with a shoulder injury and will probably be out until the end of the month.

Meanwhile, safety Brian Branch had his one-game suspension upheld by the NFL after he slapped Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster after Sunday's loss against Kansas City. Branch admitted he made a mistake, but that he was upset about an illegal hit during the game. His coach, Dan Campbell, called it 'inexcusable.'

Regardless, it seems pretty obviously how the Buccaneers will got after the Lions, who are playing in a division in which every team has a winning record.

Chiefs and Lions scuffle post game. pic.twitter.com/GHO8y3oKia
— Zachary 🏙️ (@ZachIsHere) October 13, 2025

Bama in the NFL: Game of the Week

There are numerous games this week feating teams with winning records, including the Rams at Jaguars, Colts at Chargers, Falcons at 49ers, and the Buccaneers at Lions — which feels like it could be a potential NFC playoff matchup. For our purposes, though, we're going with the Eagles at Vikings. Minnesota is coming off its two-game stint in Europe, followed by a bye week, while Philadelphia seems to be sort of looking for its offensive identity. It feels like a game the Eagles need to win, but they're coming off a loss to the New York Giants

Former Crimson Tide players in this one:

Eagles: Jihaad Campbell, LB; Landon Dickerson; Jalen Hurts, QB; Cameron Latu, TE; John Metchie III, WR; DeVonta Smith, WR; Tyler Steen, OG; Byron Young, DT
Vikings: Jonathan Allen, DT; Ryan Kelly, C (Injured Reserve); Will Reichard, K; Dallas Turner LB

Bama In The NFL: Week 7 Notes

• Green Bay running back Josh Jacobs totaled 157 scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns in Week 4, and 150 scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns in Week 6 following a bye. Sunday at Arizona, he could become just the fourth player in history to have at least 150 scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns in three consecutive weeks during a single season. The other three are LaDainian Tomlinson (four consecutive games in 2006 with the San Diego Chargers), Chris Johnson (three in 2009 with Tennessee), and Ricky Williams (three in 2002 with Miami).

• We're going to go out on a limb and say that Sunday's Miami at Cleveland game is the first featuring left-handed starting quarterbacks from Hawaii in NFL history. According to NFL Research, Tagovailoa and Browns rookie Dillion Gabriel are just the 24th matchup of left-handed quarterbacks (from anywhere) since 1950, and the first since Michael Vick against Chris Sims in 2006.

• Something to keep an eye out for Monday night, Houston Texans linebacker Henry To'oTo'o has a tackle for a loss in five straight night games.

Season Leaders Among Former Alabama Players

Category, Name, Team, Stat (Second-most player)
Passing yards: Jones, 49ers, 1,252 (Tagovailoa 1,213)
Passer rating: Hurts, Eagles, 100.2 (Jones, 93.6)
Rushing yards: Derrick Henry, Ravens, 439 (Jahmyr Gibbs 390)
Receptions: Devonta Smith, Eagles, and Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins, 29 tied
Receiving yards: Waddle, Dolphins, 390.
Forced Fumbles: Quinnen Williams, Jets, 3 (no one with more than one)
Fumble recoveries: No one with more than one.
Tackles: Mack Wilson, Cardinals 50 (Jihaad Campbell 40)
Interceptions: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Saints 2 (no one with more than one)

Former Alabama Crimson Tide players Mack Wilson of the Arizona Cardinals and Mac Jones of the San Francisco 49ers. — September 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones (10) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson (2) during the second half at Levi's Stadium. | Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

How to Watch: NFL Week 7

Thursday’s Game
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals, 7:15 p.m. CT (Prime Video)

Sunday’s Games
Los Angeles Rams at Jacksonville Jaguars (Wembley, London), 8:30 a.m. ET (NFL Network)
New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears, noon (Fox)
Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns, noon (CBS)
Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs, noon (CBS)
Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings, noon (Fox)
Carolina Panthers at New York Jets, noon (Fox)
New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans, noon (CBS)
New York Giants at Denver Broncos, 3:05 p.m. (CBS)
Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Chargers, 3:05 p.m. (CBS)
Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals, 3:25 p.m. (Fox)
Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys, 3:25 p.m. (Fox)
Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers, 7:20 p.m. (NBC)

Monday, Oct. 20
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions, 6 p.m. (ABC/ESPN)
Houston Texans at Seattle Seahawks, 9 p.m. (ESPN+)

Bye week: Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills

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